Valve-stem washer



` Feb. 19, 1924.

VALVE S TEM WASHER Filed Nov. 8, 1922 gin/ventola l3- ff: harpe `Patent Feb. t9, 31924..

" una I y esta "LEWIS GLYDE SHARPE, or KERRVILLE, 'r

' VALVE-STEM WASHER.

Applicationiled November 8, 1922. Serial Nef-599,68l3. .j

To all yw/zo'm, '5t may concern:

Beit known that I, LEWIS CLYDE SHARPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kerrville, in the county of Kerr and State of Texas,v have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Stem Washers. of which the following is a specification.

This Einvention relates t'o an im roved' means for sealing the opening in tie demountable rim or wheel rim about the valve stem. whereby to prevent the entrance of waterV or the like between the rim and casing and between the casing and tube, to

thereby prevent the corrosion-of the rim and the resultant rust attack on the tube and casing.`

In the ordinary application of 'a pneumatic tire to a demountable rim or directly to the wheel rim, the opening through which the valve stem projects is necessarily of greater diameter than that of the valve stem. This provides 'an opening through which water, snow, dirt, and the like, may find its way between the casing and rim and to some extent between the tube and casing. The corrosionv of the rim which necessarily follows the entrance of Water or the like would eventually weaken both tube and casing. and thereby materially shorten the life of these parts.

The present' invention is directed to a washer of more l or less particular form which may be inserted over the valve stem within and between the edges of t-he casing,

this washer being of a compressible material and acting under the internal pressure of the tubeto absolutely seal the opening in the demountable rim or wheel rim and also substantially fill the space about the valve stem between the tube and casing.` Thus, the entrance of water or the like is absolutely prevented andthe daniage'lnaturall resultant to the tube and casing from suc water entrance is entirely obviated.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.` l is a view in transverse section through an inflated pneumatic tire.

- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. l

The improved washer, which may be and. preferably is` constructed of rubber, com prises a body l of substantially conlcal form, having a comparatively broad base 2 Fig. 3 is a, perspective view of the washer.,

and a central opening 3. The opening 3 is circumferentially enlarged at 4 adjacent the base, and the outer wall of the body merges into the wall of the opening duced or smaller end of the-body to present at\this end a comparatively narrow 4edge 5.'--

The washer as a separate and a wholly independent element, is applied over Ithe valve stem 6, the enlarged portion 4 of the opening 3 receiving the outer securing bridge washer 7 of ythe valve stem, and the base' 2 of the washer bearing more or less snugly against the inner tube 8 around said bridge washer. .The opening 3 is 'of a -size to snugly embrace the valve stem proper and the conical formation of the washer body provides for more or less filling of the space between the bead portions 9 of the casing 10.

It will be' apparent that'a washer thus occupies a space between the inner tube and casing with the reduced or knife edge projecting into the space between the inner edges of the casing beads. Under the internal pressure of the tube, this washer will be compressed and the knife edge 5 forced into the opening ll provided in the rim 12 for the passage of the valve stem 6 therethrough. Thus, this openingwill be completely sealed and it will be impossible for water, dirt, snow, or the like, to enter. The

`inner surface of the rim, the marginal edge 3 at thereof the casing, and the surface of the inner tube, which would be otherwise reached by this water or dirt, are thus absolutely protected, and the life of these parts-materially increased.

As the opening 11 provides practically the only possible Ventrance for dirt and water 1n the use of the tire, the sealing of this open'- `ing will prevent rusting of the rim and a consequent deterioration of the casing and tube.

The washer is a Wholly independent and separable element, may be readily and conveniently applied to any tire at any time, and if worn or deteriorated under constant use, 'maybe readily and cheaply renewed.

While the invention is here shown and described as a washer per se, it is to be understood that the invention substantially ies comprehends a separable means to be applied to the valve tube to seal the vopening in the demountable or wheel rim throng which said tube passes, it..being understood that the washer is equally eective with fue n f Y v*1,- .673

tires applied directly to the wheel rimas pressure, the washer having a. conical outer with tires of the type applied to demountsurface conined and guided bythe bridge able rims. A washer and the inner surfaces of the bead Claim: n 'of the pneumatic tire, said washer having a' I In combination a. wheel rim, a pneumatic reduced edge at its smaller end'adj acent the y' tire mounted on the rim, including a tube, opening therein, whereby when pressure is a valve stem`extending from the tube and introduced in the Vtube the inclined end through the rim, and a bridge washer havportions of the bridge washer and the ini ing inclined end portions at all times free clined surfacesofbeadsof the tire force the 10 of contact with the rim, of a resilient reduced edge vof the nesilient washer into'the al washer having a central opening through `opening in the 'rimaround the valve stem y(which the valve stem passesfsaidA resilient and forms a seal.v v washer being formed with a broad surface In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. which engages the bridge washer when acted 15 upon by the tube when under pneinatic LEWIS CLYDE SHARPE. [L1 s.] 

